I have a new Bachman 4-4-0 - and i can't change the decoder.. My club uses NCE power pro.. tried to change to # 26.. and decoder would not accept - had to toggle " reset to factory to get back to # 3 So how do I accomplish the decoder re-address?? Thanks

I have done Bachmann 4-4-0 and 4-6-0 at the club some years ago. They had the five amp power pro. I used the program track. Cycled track power and the new number worked. The lights flashed sixteen times I just followed the manual.Did the same at home with my Power Cab and the program track option.Just remembered, my locos had Tsunami Micro decoders. They are easy.Not sure what else is not happening yet.

Assume you have a HO Bachmann 4-4-0 with factory installed Sound Value decoder.

Reset the decoder Resetting the sound decoder CVs to their factory default value is a two-step procedure.

1) Program 8 to CV 8 (can use either PROGRAM ON MAIN or USE PROGRAM TRK Mode programming) 2) Cycle power to the decoder by turning power to the track off and back on **

After about six-seconds upon restoring power the headlight will blink 16 times indicating that the CVs were successfully reset. However, if sound or light come on immediately upon restoring power, the decoder did not successfully reset. Repeat the two-step procedure.

** Alternate method to turning power off and back on to track.Carefully tilt locomotive and tender to the side until all wheels loose contact with one rail. Hold the tilted position for at least 30 seconds so all capacitors have time to drain. Now lower locomotive and tender back to normal position on rail.

What is affecting address programming – Address Type Restriction

Programming Sound Value decoder address using NCE PROGRAM ON MAIN modeWhen using PROGRAM ON MAIN the Sound Value decoder does not allow changing the type of address currently in use. In other words, the decoder will ignore a change from a short address to another short address or from a long address to another long address. So programming 3 to 26 is ignored by the decoder.

Following is the workaround to the decoder’s address type restriction when using PROGRAM ON MAIN.If you can run the locomotive using short address 3, then with the locomotive not moving select PROGRAM ON MAIN and follow the NCE Power PRO instructions to program address 3 to address 1000 or any long address not on the track.

Once programmed, if you can run the locomotive using address 1000, then with the locomotive not moving select PROGRAM ON MAIN programming mode and program address 1000 to the short address 26 you want.

The address type restriction is not applicable when programming USE PROGRAM TRK mode is used. To program a Sound Value decoder address using NCE select USE PROGAM TRK mode, follow the instructions to program address 3 to address 26. If decoder will not program using the clubs NCE system then in absence of other problems cycle power to the locomotive if that does not work a SoundTraxx PTB-100 Programming Track Booster is needed.